Table 2 A priori hypotheses of effects for the environmental variables examined
Variable | Expected direction | Hypothesis |
|---|---|---|
Neighborhood sociodemographic environment | Â | |
  Neighborhood median income | Positive | Nicer, cleaner, and safer environments in affluent neighborhoods promote recreational walking |
  Neighborhood education | Positive | A high average education in the neighborhood may stimulate values that are favorable to a healthy and physically active lifestyle |
  Neighborhood population density | Positive | A high population density was hypothesized to encourage walking according to the walkability hypothesis (e.g., easiness of walking to visit members of one’s social network) |
Neighborhood physical environment | Â | Â |
  Proportion of the neighborhood covered with buildings | Positive | A high density of buildings promotes walking through shorter distances to destinations |
  Surface of green spaces | Positive | Green spaces provide a pleasant context for recreational walking |
  Presence of a lake or waterway | Positive | Lakes/waterways are an enjoyable environmental feature when walking |
  Density of street intersections | Positive | Denser street networks and related shorter distances are more walkable |
  Link node ratio | Positive | More connected street networks represent more walkable neighborhoods |
  Highway nearby the dwelling | Negative | Due to noise and smell, a highway is unpleasant for recreational walking |
  Road traffic-related pollution (nitrogen dioxide) | Negative | Road traffic is a source of noise and unpleasant smells and is potentially dangerous. |
  Air traffic exposure area | Negative | Air traffic noise is a source of annoyance when walking |
  Waste treatment facilities | Negative | Waste treatment facilities may be associated with unpleasant smells as a source of annoyance |
  Presence and quality of green and open spaces | Positive | Green and open spaces of quality provide a pleasant context for recreational walking |
  Deterioration of the physical environment | Negative | A deteriorated physical environment may discourage recreational walking |
Neighborhood service environment | Â | Â |
  Density of destinations | Positive | A high density of services promotes walking, even when people have no definite purchase intentions as in recreational walking |
  Presence of monuments | Positive | Monuments are enjoyable environmental features that foster recreational walking |
  Number of transportation lines | Positive | A high number of transportation lines facilitates access to enjoyable places for walking. A high number of transportation lines may also be a marker of an attractive neighborhood |
  Proportion of incoming and outgoing traffic by public transportation rather than car | Positive | Places with a higher share of trips by public transport represent more walkable neighborhoods |
  Presence of a shopping center | Positive | Shopping centers are a common destination for recreational walking |
Neighborhood social interactions | Â | Â |
  School violence nearby the dwelling | Negative | Fear of violence and crime discourages from walking |
  Neighborhood social cohesion | Positive | Socially cohesive neighborhoods provide a pleasant context for walking |
  Neighborhood shared feeling of insecurity | Negative | Fear of violence and crime discourages from walking |
  Neighborhood stressful social interactions | Negative | Fear of incivilities discourages from walking |
  Neighborhood mistrust and hostility | Negative | Mistrust and hostility among neighbors discourage from walking |
Neighborhood symbolic environment | Â | Â |
  Stigmatized neighborhood identity | Negative | Neighborhoods with a stigmatized identity are not attractive for walking |